Taft Post Office to be Dedicated to Local Hero July 3

Public Law 110-184 names building for Army Staff Sgt. Larry S. Pierce

TAFT, CA — The Taft Post Office, located at 427 North Street, will be dedicated to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Larry S. Pierce during a ceremony in front of the building on Thursday, July 3, 2008, at 10 a.m. Congressman Kevin McCarthy (CA-22) sponsored the legislation signed into law by the President on February 6, 2008 that honors Pierce, a local and national hero.

On September 20, 1965, Sgt. Pierce sacrificed his own life in Vietnam by throwing himself on a mine as it exploded to save the lives of his fellow soldiers. For his actions, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on February 24, 1966 and promoted to Staff Sergeant. Pierce was also awarded the Purple Heart. He left behind a wife, Verlin, and three children, Teresa, Kelley and Gregory.

Pierce was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma, on July 6, 1941. His family moved to Taft where he grew up and attended Taft Union High School before joining the Army.

“Every employee at the Taft Post Office is very proud to have our facility honor this brave soldier and local hero, Larry S. Pierce, who gave his life for our country,” said Taft Postmaster Kathy Anaya.

The U.S. Postal Service will issue a special pictorial postmark (illustrated below) at the July 3 ceremony to commemorate the event and honor Sgt. Pierce. The postmark will be applied free of charge to any card, envelope or ceremony program that has First-Class postage affixed. This special postmark will be available upon request for 30 days after the ceremony at the Taft Post Office. To order the postmark by mail, enclose item to be postmarked, with postage affixed, in a separate cover envelope (be sure to include your return address) and mail to:

Larry S. Pierce Postmark
c/o Postmaster
427 North Street
Taft CA 93268-9998